Wrexham

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With Wrexham back at Championship level for the first time since 1982, BBC Sport Wales asked fans for their views after the opening day defeat at Southampton.

Mick: "One game in and new signings made a positive impact. Too early for predictions as it will take time for the team to gel. We will have a better idea at the end of August. Overall feeling positive for the season."

Karl: "Promising start in what is going to be a real competitive environment. The more games under our belt, the more comfortable the team will be in how to react to what is in front of them."

Rich: "Wrexham are doing the town proud. [Conor] Coady was super at the back and [Liberato] Cacace looks top drawer. Will it be tough? Of course it will and we are not under any illusions otherwise. Bring it on, this is one heck of an adventure."

Sandra: "A really good start to the season by Wrexham and I think that things will get better. Getting up to speed with the Championship will take time but with a difficult game against a relegated club first off was always going to be hard. Got to say though, I think that the Moore signing is always going to be difficult to justify. At the end of the day Wrexham I think will be safe. Go on you new welsh HEROES."

Jane: "I thought Wrexham overall played well considering this is a new team. Pace was good and a keeness to win which wasn't always there before. Passing was good but Wrexham need to be more assertive and confident. The support was fantastic."

Mark: "Excellent display against a top side for this Division. Saints have a large squad of top Championship players and with depth in all positions. We started with 6 new players and it was tribute to the staff at the club that they played so well together. Wrexham will be fine this season and we will strengthen further before the end of the window."

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Wrexham forward Ryan Hardie says he apologised to his team-mates for missing a "crucial" chance at Southampton that might have sealed a thrilling opening-day win.

Hardie was put through on goal after coming off the bench at St Mary's but saw his shot brilliantly fingertipped to safety by Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.

Had the 28-year-old scored, it would have put Wrexham 2-0 up, but a few moments later Ryan Manning brought Southampton level before Jack Stephens bundled in the winner six minutes into injury time.

"I don't get massively disappointed missing chances if they come along quite often, but the one that I missed was crucial in the game," said the Scottish striker, who joined Wrexham from Plymouth Argyle in June.

"If I had put that in, I think it would've then been a different game. So I took time to apologise to everyone.

"It's part and parcel of being a striker - we're going to miss some chances. But the keeper made a great save. It was just one of those days, but we've also got to do our jobs better and see the game out."

Hardie is hoping to make his first competitive start for the Red Dragons when they host Hull City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

"The atmosphere at the weekend was brilliant - even when we came out for the warm-up, the fans were incredible," said Hardie.

"If there's an extra 7,000 or 8,000 on top of that at home on Tuesday night, it's going to be bouncing for sure.

"I'm excited to play there [at Stok Cae Ras] for the first time, and the cup gives people opportunities to play, to get minutes.

"We want to go as far as we can in the competition."

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It was a thrilling start to Wrexham's Championship campaign - but heart-breaking in the end as Southampton denied the Red Dragons a dream opening-day win at St Mary's by overturning their 1-0 lead with two late goals.

Wrexham had led for more than 60 minutes after debutant Josh Windass put them ahead from the penalty spot following a foul on fellow new signing Kieffer Moore.

Boss Phil Parkinson gave debuts to four other summer signings - Moore's Wales teammate Danny Ward in goal, defender Connor Coady, and midfielders Lewis O'Brien and Liberato Cacace.

So what did you make of the performance? Which of the new signings impressed you most? Do Wrexham really need more new players? Let us know your views here.

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Phil Parkinson remains determined to further bolster his Wrexham squad but insists players already at the club will be given every chance to succeed in the Championship.

Injured midfielder George Thomason was the only one of Wrexham's eight summer signings to date not to make their competitive debut for the club in the opening day loss at Southampton.

When asked if he remains eager for more signings, Parkinson said: "Without a doubt - we're working towards that.

"We want to keep strengthening the squad so it's competitive enough to give us a chance in this division.

"We're bringing players in to help the existing players."

Players including captain Matty James and academy product Max Cleworth impressed at St Mary's Stadium having previously played a part in helping Wrexham gain promotion into the second tier.

And Parkinson stressed that those who have been part of Wrexham's rise up the divisions remain integral to his plans.

"As much as I'm pleased with the new lads today, Max [Cleworth], Brunty [Lewis Brunt], outstanding performances," added the 57-year-old.

"Barney [Ryan Barnett], first half he gave that left wing-back so many problems. George Dobson, great, Matty James, great. That means a lot.

"We're not bringing players in and writing them off. We want to see them step up and we saw that today."

Wales duo Nathan Broadhead and Lewis Koumas are among those to have been linked with a move to the Stok Cae Ras.

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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has questioned whether Southampton should have been reduced to 10 men before a thrilling late comeback at St Mary's Stadium saw the Saints win Saturday's Championship opener 2-1.

The Welsh side led for much of the match thanks to a Josh Windass penalty after Kieffer Moore was shoved over in the area by Ronnie Edwards, only for Southampton to snatch victory with two goals in time added on.

But Parkinson believes that Southampton defender Edwards should have been sent off for his foul on Moore that led to Wrexham's 22nd-minute spot kick.

"I want to look at the moment again when he [Moore] is clean through [on goal] and gets pushed down for the penalty," Parkinson said after the game.

"I've just spoken to the ref [James Bell] and said my interpretation of that rule is that if it's an intentional push it's a straight red.

"We saw that from the touchline, we saw it again on the footage at half-time and I can't see how he's not got that right, it's a game-changing moment if they go down to 10 men.

"I know the ref feels there was a covering defender but if you're just about to strike the ball on goal and the player intentionally pushes you to the ground, for me the ref's got to make that call right."

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Boss Phil Parkinson believes Wrexham can enjoy the "underdog" tag as they begin their 2025-26 Championship campaign at Southampton today (12:30 BST).

Two tiers separated the sides last season, although the Saints are among the promotion favourites this term to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Ahead of what will be his side's first season in the second tier since 1981-82, Parkinson says it is difficult to predict what Wrexham can expect against Will Still's outfit.

"There's huge expectation on the teams who have come down and we can enjoy that underdog card going down there," he said.

"What am I expecting? It's difficult to predict their line-up because they've had a few injuries over pre-season and a few players in the background may be moving, they may still be there.

"I'm sure their manager is getting asked the same questions I am.

"If it's three or four weeks into the season, you can predict how teams are going to play and what shape they're going to play, but I think this one is slightly more difficult.

"So it's about concentrating on what we feel we need to do to be at our best at the weekend."

Heading into his fifth campaign as manager with Wrexham, Parkinson has already secured three promotions during his time at the Stok Cae Ras.

And the 57-year-old says he was afforded some time during the off-season to be with his family to reflect on the club's remarkable progress, rising from the National League under the ownership of Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

"There's definitely been some reflection. We all had our separate holidays and it was great to be away with the family and see my parents who live in the North East and spend a bit of time with them to talk about the achievement," he said.

"Once the season is up and running, it's kind of 100mph.

"When you look at the competitiveness of that division (League One), to get promoted was tremendous for us all.

"It was a huge effort. Sometimes people look at us and think 'Wrexham have just spent money, that's it'. No, there's a lot of detail, thought and structure behind the scenes which has taken place to enable us to get those three promotions."

"The amount of new managers coming into the league this year, I have never seen anything like it".

Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff are joined by special guests Tommy Smith and Alex Bruce to preview the 2025-26 Championship season.

They discuss a range of topics including assessing chances of sides coming down from the Premier League, who the contenders might be for the top six and take a deep dive of each of the sides promoted from League One.

Listen to the full episode of 72+ and more on BBC Sounds.

There may not have been a Hollywood ending to Southampton's season in the Premier League, but there's a Hollywood beginning to their life back in the Championship.

Wrexham head to St Mary's for the opening game of the season (12:30 BST) - the first the Red Dragons will play in the second tier of English football in more than 43 years.

Their extraordinary rise through the divisions, courtesy of back-to-back-to-back promotions under Phil Parkinson, with the much-publicised backing of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has Wrexham fans dreaming of yet another push for promotion.

Saints fans are just looking to get back to winning ways after a season in which they lost 30 of their 38 Premier League fixtures, winning only two and accruing 12 points.

New boss Will Still said the club want to 'turn the page' on last season, and what better way to start than in a match sure to capture the attention of millions around the globe.

• This is the first meeting in any competition between Southampton and Wrexham since the 1979-80 League Cup second round, when Saints won 5-0 at home and 3-0 away in a two-legged tie.

• The last league encounter between Southampton and Wrexham was in April 1960 in the third tier, with the Welsh side winning 2-1 through goals from Ron Harbertson and Bernard Evans.

• Southampton have won one of their past 11 opening fixtures of a league campaign (W1, D4, L6), though that sole victory came during their only Championship fixture in that time – a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in August 2023.

• Wrexham are unbeaten across their past 10 league games (W7, D3), conceding multiple goals in just one of those matches. The Welsh side last had a longer unbeaten stint in the EFL between March and August 2003 (18 games).

• Wrexham will play their first second-tier game in 43 years and 86 days when they face Southampton. It is the longest gap between matches in England's second tier since Doncaster Rovers returned in 2008 (50 years and 105 days).

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Phil Parkinson has held talks with Ollie Palmer this week as the striker appears destined to leave Wrexham before the summer transfer window deadline.

The 33-year-old is in the final year of his contract at the Stok Cae Ras and has not played for the club in a competitive fixture since featuring in a 4-1 EFL Trophy win at Port Vale in early February.

And having recruited forwards Kieffer Moore, Josh Windass and Ryan Hardie during the off-season, Parkinson says Palmer - scorer of 44 goals in 149 appearances since joining from Wimbledon in January 2022 - is among a number of players who could depart the club over the coming weeks.

"Kieffer Moore comes in, I've had a good chat with Ollie Palmer this week. He needs to go and play this season, he knows that," said Parkinson.

"He's been a great servant to the club, a real key player in the climb up the divisions but he's ready to go and play, so there's an example.

"We spoke about Jacob Mendy a couple of weeks ago and there's other players in that category.

"But equally there's also a group who want to prove themselves and they're going to get the opportunity to do that.

"There's a lot of players who have enjoyed being a part of this club and rightly so.

"But they know for their own careers they need to play. If we feel that the time is right for that to happen, then we'll help it happen and get them a club where we feel it's going to be beneficial for them."

Prior to their 2025-26 Championship opener against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday (12:30 BST), Wrexham have confirmed frontman Mo Faal has joined Port Vale on a season-long loan deal.

Club icon Paul Mullin left to join Wigan Athletic on loan earlier on in the window while left-back Mendy is also expected to depart on a temporary basis.

"I think inevitably players are going to go," explained Parkinson.

"That's sometimes for the benefit of the player as well. There's players who didn't get a lot of game time last year who need for themselves to go and play.

"What I feel we've done well, we've been very fair to everybody over the last four years since Rob [McElhenney] and Ryan [Reynolds] came in. Everybody's been treated respectfully.

"Decisions have got to be made because, we've got to be realistic, we're going into a very competitive division with a lot of spending power across the board.

"So players will go and it'll genuinely be the ones who we feel need to get some game time and that may be loan or permanent deals."

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Matty James says he has been grateful for his "crazy" spell at Wrexham so far following a "whirlwind" summer last year.

The central midfielder was released by Bristol City in May 2024 and was without a club until moving to the Stok Cae Ras in October on a short-term basis.

But he went on to sign a contract until June 2026 and featured 33 times in all competitions under Phil Parkinson to help the club gain automatic promotion from League One.

"Last summer was a bit of a whirlwind," he said.

"I went into Leicester, they were fantastic and kept me fit, and then the opportunity came from Wrexham and I took it with both hands.

"Lo and behold we get promoted and I'm back in the Championship.

"It's been a crazy nearly 12 months and I'm really grateful for that.

"I was having doubts over whether I'd play again but it couldn't have happened any better really, getting ready for a Championship game on Saturday afternoon."

The end of Wrexham's 2025-26 season will mark 10 years since James was on the books at Leicester City when they stunned the football world by winning the Premier League.

James missed the entirety of that memorable season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, although he admits he is bidding to remain an integral part of Wrexham's "fairy tale" having missed out on the Foxes' glorious title win almost a decade ago.

"It'd be a book end. 10 years ago? That's unbelievable," he said.

"As a group of players, everybody's aware of the story and the conversation that comes with it.

"I think the main thing is we go out and enjoy it as well because, from where the club's been to where it is now, it's a fairy tale story and I hope that continues."

Now at 34 years of age and with the likes of Lewis O'Brien and George Thomason brought in to the squad during the summer, James' sole aim is to continue to feature and contribute regularly for Wrexham.

"The personal aim is I want to play as many games as I possibly can," he explained.

"I want to prove I can still play in the Championship at 34 years old. That's what drives me and just to help the lads as much as possible.

"For me at the moment, I feel great, I've got a real spring in my step.

"I've enjoyed the football club and everything about it. I want to play here for as long as possible."